How do I test if sound is working?

[Burberry]

I just wanted to ask how I can actually test if the sound is working or not. Is there a fool-proof way of finding out? I have just installed 7.10 on the machine and if I play an MP3 in Amorok, then I hear nothing. I have read somewhere that it does not come with an MP3 decoder, but I am never asked to install one.

Have also tried to use speaker-test in the console, but not sure if I should use it with some sort of properties... it seems to be sending to the front, but my sound card is showing that I have Master, Front, Surround, Capture, Mux and another Mux. Not sure which one I should use.

For the mp3 playback I have tried using the various ones, but nothing...

Can someone help me?

[integr8e]

Re: How do I test if sound is working?

Click the KMix icon in your systray and make sure it isn't muted. Then, if it isn't, make sure your username is part of the "audio" group:

sudo addgroup [username] audio

Just replace [username] with your username. Log out, restart X.org with Alt+E, log back in, and see if you have sound. If that still doesn't work, we can try verifying you have the appropriate driver installed/configured for your sound chip/card, and go from there.

[marshallbanana]

Re: How do I test if sound is working?

Try playing a .ogg file. They should be supported from scratch. If you don't have one handy there are plenty around, try for instance some of the ones on wikipedia (eg. from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz)

[Goeroeboeroe]

Re: How do I test if sound is working?

I always go to System Settings -> Sound System -> Test Sound
(Maybe the names are a bit different since I have a Dutch system)

[Burberry]

Re: How do I test if sound is working?

Just replace [username] with your username. Log out, restart X.org with Alt+E, log back in, and see if you have sound. If that still doesn't work, we can try verifying you have the appropriate driver installed/configured for your sound chip/card, and go from there.

Thanks integr8e. It said I am already a member of audio, so I am guessing I should be sorted on that front. Perhaps the driver has somehow not been installed properly? How would I know?

[Burberry]

Re: How do I test if sound is working?

I always go to System Settings -> Sound System -> Test Sound
(Maybe the names are a bit different since I have a Dutch system)

Thanks Goeroeboeroe, I did press the button test sound, but nothing happens and nothing coming out from my speakers, guessing there is something wrong with the drivers or alike. Where do I go from now to try and fix it?

[dibl]

Re: How do I test if sound is working?

Where do I go from now to try and fix it?

You go on a self-guided adventure of discovery, starting here:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=205449

[Goeroeboeroe]

Re: How do I test if sound is working?

Thanks for the nice link! Actually pressing the test button is all I know about sound